Charles W. Chesnutt: Racial Formation Through American Literature
Morgan Almodovar
Mr. Karli
CHS English 101
22 March 2014
Racial Formation through American Literature
In America, the “melting pot” process has been associated with cultural assimilation. In American History, assimilation is the system in which an individual or minority group loses its initial culture when dominated by another culture. With all different ethnic groups in our country, there is no surprise that different individuals view racial and culture identity differently. American writers, exclusively, depict their views of racial pride. While Langston Hughes and Charles W. Chesnutt seek to depict the value in pride of black culture in their literature, Amy Tan writes about the cultural struggles she faces through her mother and …show more content…
Apart from what any critic had to say about my writing, I knew I had succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: "So easy to read." (Tan “Mother Tongue”).
Charles Chesnutt was a mixed-race author, known for his short stories such as, “Wife of His Youth” and “The Passing of Grandison.” Chesnutt explores the difficult issues of culture and racial identity through these two pieces. These changed current views on slavery and new concerns about African-American culture.
In the short story, “Wife of His Youth”, Chesnutt deals strictly with the conception and theme of racial identity. The main character of the story, Mr. Ryder, is depicted as a “mulatto”, a person of mixed blood. During the laws of this time, Mr. Ryder was still considered a colored man. He believes if he can find another person of his kind, a “mulatto”, he will move up on the social …show more content…
The “melting pot” of America consists of over one hundred different cultures and ethnic groups. With all of these diverse factions of society, there are many different individuals that view racial and cultural identity differently. American writers, entirely, depict their outlook on racial pride. While Langston Hughes and Charles W. Chesnutt seek to depict the value in pride of black culture in their works, Amy Tan seeks to show her cultural struggles she faces through her mother and everyday life.
Works Cited
Chesnutt, Charles. “The Passing of Grandison” The Norton Anthology of American Literature.
Shorter 7th ed. Vol. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: Norton, 2008. 472-483. Print.
Chesnutt, Charles. “Wife of His Youth.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter 7th ed. Vol. 2. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: Norton, 2008. 464-472. Print.
Tan, Amy. “Mother Tongue.” The Blair Reader: Exploring issues and ideas. 8th ed. Ed. Laurie G. Kriszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Boston: Pearson, 2014. 134-39. Print
Hughes, Langston. Nelson, Cary, and Batholomew Brinkman, eds. Modern American Poetry.
Department of English, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1999. Web. 23 Mar.
2014.
Mr. Karli
CHS English 101
22 March 2014
Racial Formation through American Literature
In America, the “melting pot” process has been associated with cultural assimilation. In American History, assimilation is the system in which an individual or minority group loses its initial culture when dominated by another culture. With all different ethnic groups in our country, there is no surprise that different individuals view racial and culture identity differently. American writers, exclusively, depict their views of racial pride. While Langston Hughes and Charles W. Chesnutt seek to depict the value in pride of black culture in their literature, Amy Tan writes about the cultural struggles she faces through her mother and …show more content…
Apart from what any critic had to say about my writing, I knew I had succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: "So easy to read." (Tan “Mother Tongue”).
Charles Chesnutt was a mixed-race author, known for his short stories such as, “Wife of His Youth” and “The Passing of Grandison.” Chesnutt explores the difficult issues of culture and racial identity through these two pieces. These changed current views on slavery and new concerns about African-American culture.
In the short story, “Wife of His Youth”, Chesnutt deals strictly with the conception and theme of racial identity. The main character of the story, Mr. Ryder, is depicted as a “mulatto”, a person of mixed blood. During the laws of this time, Mr. Ryder was still considered a colored man. He believes if he can find another person of his kind, a “mulatto”, he will move up on the social …show more content…
The “melting pot” of America consists of over one hundred different cultures and ethnic groups. With all of these diverse factions of society, there are many different individuals that view racial and cultural identity differently. American writers, entirely, depict their outlook on racial pride. While Langston Hughes and Charles W. Chesnutt seek to depict the value in pride of black culture in their works, Amy Tan seeks to show her cultural struggles she faces through her mother and everyday life.
Works Cited
Chesnutt, Charles. “The Passing of Grandison” The Norton Anthology of American Literature.
Shorter 7th ed. Vol. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: Norton, 2008. 472-483. Print.
Chesnutt, Charles. “Wife of His Youth.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter 7th ed. Vol. 2. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: Norton, 2008. 464-472. Print.
Tan, Amy. “Mother Tongue.” The Blair Reader: Exploring issues and ideas. 8th ed. Ed. Laurie G. Kriszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Boston: Pearson, 2014. 134-39. Print
Hughes, Langston. Nelson, Cary, and Batholomew Brinkman, eds. Modern American Poetry.
Department of English, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1999. Web. 23 Mar.
2014.